Line connector for media lines

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a line connector for media lines, consisting of a connector piece with at least one junction portion for junction connection to a media line or to an assembly and with a transitional portion contiguous to the junction portion and having a flow duct. In this case, at least in the region of the transitional portion, electrical heating means are provided in an arrangement at least partially surrounding the flow duct. Furthermore, the invention relates to a ready-made media line consisting of a pipeline with a heating conductor arranged on the circumference and with a heatable line connector fastened at least to one pipeline end of the media line.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to PCT/EP2008/053295 filed Mar. 19,2008, DE 20 2007 006 115.3 filed Apr. 26, 2007, DE 20 2007 009 588.0filed Jul. 9, 2007, DE 10 2007 040 786.8 filed Aug. 28, 2007, and DE 202008 003 365.9 filed Mar. 10, 2008, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a line connector for media lines(pipelines or hose lines for, in particular, hydraulic flow media),comprising a connector piece with at least one junction portion forjunction connection to a media line or to an assembly, and atransitional portion contiguous to the junction portion and having aninner flow duct.

The present invention relates, furthermore, to a ready-made media line,using a line connector of this type.

BACKGROUND

Line connectors serve for the mutual connection of at least two medialines or for the junction connection of at least one line to anyassembly, in a motor vehicle. In this case, such media are often routedvia the lines, which on account of a relatively high freezing point tendto freeze even at relatively high ambient temperatures possible undercertain climatic conditions. Upon freezing of the media, specificfunctions may become impaired. This occurs, for example, in water linesfor the windshield washing system and also in the case of lines for aurea solution which is used as an NO reduction additive for dieselengines having SCR catalytic converters, as they are known.

A continual need and desire therefore exists to provide a line connectorof the type mentioned, which is especially suitable for the preferredapplication mentioned and which prevents freezing of the respectivemedium in the connector region.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention is to make a ready-made lineavailable for the purpose describe above. This is achieved, according toone aspect of the invention, by the line at least in the region of thetransitional portion, that is to say outside the junction portion orjunction portions, including electrical heating means in an arrangementsurrounding the flow duct over its circumference at least partially, butpreferably completely over 360°. This heating means can avoid oreliminate the freezing of the respective medium inside the connectorpiece, in that a medium which, for example, is frozen overnight when thevehicle is stationary is defrosted. In this case, the heating means aredesigned in such a way that a defined heating is ensured, along withgood electrical insulation, good heat transmission, good mechanicalproperties and protection against mechanical damage and corrosion. Bythe ready-made line being continuously heated according to one aspect ofthe invention over the entire length, protection against freezing overthe entire transport path of the medium is ensured.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, advantageous refinements, and advantages achieved will bedescribed in greater detail with reference to the exemplary embodimentsillustrated in the appended drawings. The drawings described herein arefor illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scopeof the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one possible embodiment of a lineconnector constructed according to the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a lineconnector constructed according to the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a lineconnector constructed according to the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a lineconnector according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a lineconnector according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a lineconnector constructed according to the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a lineconnector constructed according to the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 shows one version of the line connector in longitudinal section,constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a preferred version of the line connector according to oneaspect of the present invention in a perspective view from a firstviewing direction;

FIG. 10 shows a preferred version of the line connector according to oneaspect of the present invention in a perspective view of the oppositeside to that according to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a longitudinal section (sectional plane XI-XI according toFIG. 12) of the line connector according to FIGS. 9 and 10 with ahousing half of an additional outer cladding and with a joined medialine having additional sheathing and heating;

FIG. 12 shows a view of a section taken in the plane XII-XII accordingto FIG. 11 with both housing halves of the cladding;

FIG. 13 shows a partially sectional side view of a ready-made media lineconstructed according one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows a side view of the ready-made media line according to FIG.13;

FIG. 14 a is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram according to oneaspect of the present invention showing the wiring of the resistancewires and heating conductors of FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 b is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram according toanother aspect of the present invention showing the wiring of theresistance wires and heating conductors of FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a fluid line according to one aspectof the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows a view of the section taken along the sectional line II-IIin FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a view of a heating element according to anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 shows a view of a line pipe and a heating element according toyet another aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no wayintended to limit the present invention or its application or uses. Itshould be understood that throughout the description and drawings,corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding partsand features.

Referring to FIGS. 1-12, a line connector 1 according to the teachingsof the present invention includes a connector piece 2 which ispreferably formed as a one-piece molding from plastic, in particularfrom a fiber-reinforced polyamide such as PA6.6 GF30 or PA12 GF30. Theconnector piece 2 has at least one junction portion 6 for junctionconnection to a media line 4 (illustrated only in FIGS. 7 and 11) or toany assembly, not illustrated. Furthermore, the connector piece has afurther junction portion 8 which lies opposite the junction portion 6and which is designed in a known way, for example, as a socket part fora releasable plug connection. However, the junction portion 8 may alsobe formed as a plug portion.

In the preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated, the connector piece2 is designed as an angle connector, the junction portions 6 and 8forming with respect to their junction axes a specific, for exampleright angle (90°). In this case, the junction portions 6, 8 areconnected via a transitional portion 10 which has an inner flow duct 11which can be seen only in FIGS. 8, 11 and 12.

The connector piece 2 may also have any other desired configurationdeviating from the examples illustrated, for example as a T-piece ordistributor piece with three or more junction portions, as a rectilinearpassage connector, as an angle connector (for example V-piece) with anydesired junction axis angle deviating from a right angle (90°) or thelike without exceeding the scope of the invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the connector piece 2has, at least in the region of the transitional portion 10, electricalheating means 12 in an arrangement surrounding the flow duct 11 radiallyor circumferentially. As a result, the line connector 1 according tothis aspect of the invention is suitable particularly for lines in motorvehicles for the routing of media, such as water or, in particular urea,which are at risk of freezing. The term “transitional portion” 10 willbe understood by one skilled-in-the-art as meaning that region of theline connector 1 or of the connector piece 2 which, after the junctionof lines (4) and/or after junction to an assembly, is still “exposed”and can therefore be provided with heating means 12.

As may be gathered from FIGS. 1 and 2, the heating means 12 provided maybe at least one electrical resistance wire 14 in an arrangement runningwith an essentially uniform surface distribution at least over theregion of the transitional portion 10. As may be gathered in thisrespect from FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 to 7, the connector piece 2 has on theoutside, specific form elements for guiding and fixing the resistancewire 14 attached on the outside. Outwardly projecting extensions 16 orribs and/or, for example, groove-shaped depressions 18 (see FIG. 4) maybe provided as form elements. Depending on the configuration andarrangement of the form elements 16, 18, the resistance wire 14 mayhave, but not be limited to, a-meander-like or serpentine-like run inorder to avoid a coil effect during a current flux (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

Alternatively to this, however, the resistance wire 14 may also surroundthe connector piece 2 by being wound in a coil-like manner on theoutside (see FIGS. 10 to 12) without exceeding the scope of the presentinvention. This is indicated in FIG. 4, for example, by a corresponding,helical profile of the groove-like depressions 18. In this case,advantageously, a second winding coil (not shown), which surrounds theflow duct, may be arranged in the inner region of the connector piece 2in such a way that induction into the inner winding coil takes place bymeans of a current flux through the outer resistance wire 14.

The resistance wire 14 attached on the outside may be covered with aninsulating coating comprised for example, of a coating powder or thelike. This may also be a dip coating. Owing to the insulating coating,the resistance wire 14 itself may be produced without any specificinsulation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the resistancewire 14 may also be embedded (formed) into the material of the plasticconnector piece 2. Reference is made in this respect to FIG. 8,according to which a tubular piece 20 is wound around with theresistance wire 14 and is introduced into an injection-molding die. Thetubular piece 20 provided with the resistance wire 14 can then beinjection-molded around with plastic in any desired way. The ends of thewinding wire 14 are led outward so that a voltage can be applied. Thetubular piece 20 may be made of plastic, but also of metal, in order toachieve good heat conduction inward into the flow duct 11.

In one design variant of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, asheet-like heating element, not illustrated, for example in the form ofa glued-on heating foil or of printed-on heating conductor tracks, maybe provided on a smooth, for example, cylindrical outer face 22 of theconnector piece 2. In another design variant, the material of theconnector piece 2 itself may also be designed to be electricallyconductive as heating means 12.

In order to achieve high heat conductivity, when the connector piece 2is plastic, the plastic material may have specific fillers forincreasing the heat conductivity. Suitable fillers are particles ofaluminum Al₂O₃, glass fibers and/or carbon fibers, among others.

Referring to FIG. 7, the connector piece 2 may be surrounded by an outercladding. The aspect of the present invention indicated in FIG. 7 may bea two-part outer housing 24 which includes two symmetrical housinghalves 24 a, 24 b in the form of half shells (see FIGS. 11 and 12) andof which only one housing half 24 a is illustrated in FIG. 7. In thiscase, the housing halves (24 a, 24 b) may advantageously be connected toone another via complementary latching means 26.

Alternatively, according to another aspect of the present invention, itis also possible, as cladding, for the entire connector piece 2 to beinjection-molded around with an outer housing. Moreover, the claddingprovided may also be what is known as a shrinkable tube, fabric tube orthe like. Owing to the cladding, an air volume can be enclosed betweenthe latter and the connector piece, with the result that good heatdistribution, but also thermal insulation outwardly, are achieved. Theouter coating or the cladding may bring about outward heat insulation.For this purpose, the plastic, without conductive fillers, is designedto have as low heat conductivity as possible.

In various aspects of the present invention where the resistance wire 14is attached on the outside, the wire ends are preferably fastened vialatching connections such that they project outward for contactingpurposes. In the aspect of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 9to 12, the outer extensions 16, by means of a helical run, form alikewise helically running receptacle for the resistance wire 14. Inthis case, according to FIG. 9, the resistance wire 14 may run from afirst wire end 14 a, arranged in the region of the outer face of thejunction portion 6, spirally over the region of the transitional portion10 and then, according to FIG. 10, back again axially, so that a secondwire end 14 b likewise lies in the region of the outer face of thejunction portion 6, approximately diametrically opposite the other wireend 14 a. Thus, the wire ends 14 a, 14 b can be connected electricallyto junction conductors or advantageously to heating conductors of themedia line 4. The resistance wire 14 can therefore be supplied withelectrical power (voltage, current), for example, via spiral heatingconductors of the media line 4.

The heating means 12 may be designed with a power of 3 to 20 Watt andthe resistance wire 14 may be designed with a length of, for example, upto 200 mm. For a connector piece 2 with an inner volume of the flow duct11 in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 cm³, a power quotient in the range of from1 to 15 watts/cm³ is preferred. The resistance wire 14 may be designedwith a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) or with a positivetemperature coefficient (PTC). A supply voltage of the order of 10 to amaximum of 14 volts is preferred.

The respective junction portion 6 may be designed as a junction gudgeonfor the direct plugging on of a media line 4 (see, in this respect,FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5) or as a plug shank (FIGS. 3 and 6) capable of beingplugged into a plug socket.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 9 to 11, the junction portion 6 may also bedesigned with, in particular, hollow-cylindrical form, a receptacle fordirectly plugging in the media line 4. In this case, the media line 4 ispreferably fastened, for example adhesively bonded or welded, in thejunction portion 6 in a materially integral manner. For welding by meansof a laser beam, the junction portion 6 may consist at least in regionsof a laser-transparent material.

As is illustrated, by the example of the junction portion 8, the lattermay also be designed as a plug socket for receiving a plug shank. Inthis case, in regards to a plug connection, any desired means for thereleasable locking of the plug connection parts may be provided.Reference is made in this respect, for example, to FIGS. 11 and 12.

As one skilled-in-the-art will understand from FIG. 7 and also from FIG.11, it may be advantageous that in combination with the cladding,especially in the version as an outer housing 24, and in the case of alikewise self-heated media line 4, to provide the media line 4 with anadditional sheathing 27 in the form of a corrugated tube surrounding theline 4. The sheathing 27 serves for mechanical protection and forthermal insulation for at least one heating conductor 29 runningspirally around the media line 4. In this case, the sheathing 27 runsinto the outer housing 24 and ends shortly before it reaches thejunction portion 6. In this region, the outer housing 24 may have awidened chamber 28 for the reception of electrical connections (notshown) between the resistance wire ends 14 a, 14 b and the ends of theheating conductor 23 of the media line 4.

The outer housing 24 possesses, in the introduction region of thesheathing 27, the corrugated tube, ribs 25 which run around on its innerwall and which project into the wave troughs 31 of the corrugated tube.According to the invention, a form-fit connection between the outerhousing 24 and the sheathing 27 is made. Moreover, it can be seen inFIG. 7 that a form-fit connection is likewise present between the outerhousing 24 and the connector piece 2. For this purpose, the outerhousing 24 has, in the region of the junction portion 8 of the connectorpiece 2, an inner slot 35, into which an annular collar 36 of theconnector piece 2 projects.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the housing halves 24 a, 24 b of the outerhousing 24 may also be connected via outer holding elements 30 designed,for example, in the manner of tension clips, tension wires or springclamps.

The present invention also embraces a ready-made media line, such as isillustrated in FIG. 13. This ready-made media line consists of an innerpipeline 4 a with a heating conductor 29 arranged on the circumference,as is illustrated in FIG. 7. The pipeline 4 a with the heating conductor29 is surrounded by an outer sheathing 27. This outer sheathing 27 ispreferably produced as a corrugated tube. This may be a ring-waved or aspiral-waved corrugated tube. As explained with regard to FIGS. 1 to 10,line connectors are joined in each case to the two ends of the medialine 4 designed in this way.

In a preferred embodiment, a line connector 1, which is designed as anangle plug, is fastened at one end, and a straight plug junction isprovided as a line connector 1 at the other end. In the examplesillustrated in the present disclosure, the line connectors 1 are in eachcase designed at the end as a socket part, but they may likewise bedesigned as a plug part.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the sheathing 27 is guided into the outerhousing 24 of the line connector 1 and is connected with a form fit tothe outer housing 24. The heating conductor 29 surrounding the pipeline4 a is wound spirally around the latter and is formed, in particular,from two wire windings 29 a, 29 b running in parallel. These two wirewindings 29 a, 29 b may consist of one continuous wire, in which casethe two junction ends are then present at the same pipeline end.However, they may also be formed from two separate wires.

The heating conductor 29 is preferably wound around with an adhesivetape and is thereby fixed to the pipeline 4 a. Alternatively, it maylikewise be possible that the heating conductor 29 is arranged on thepipeline 4 a by means of an outer lacquer or adhesive layer.Particularly when different heating powers are desired along thepipeline 4 a, the density of the number of turns and/or the electricalresistance may vary along the pipeline 4 a, so that different heatingpowers can thereby be generated in portions, for example in siphonregions or in regions of the media line which are acted upon by relativewind and in which there is an increased tendency for the medium tofreeze. The connector piece 2 present inside the line connector 1 may beconnected to the pipeline 4 a via a plug connection, but it is likewisewithin the scope of the invention if the pipeline 4 a is connected tothe connector piece 2 in a materially integral manner, for example bywelding or adhesive bonding.

Furthermore, it is preferred when a defined air gap is formed betweenthe pipeline 4 a and the line sheathing 27. This may be achieved, forexample, by the ring waviness itself or by means of spacers or the likearranged inside the corrugated tube. For better sealing off, it maylikewise be advantageous, according to one aspect of the presentinvention, if a sealing compound 30 is introduced between the outerhousing 24 of the line connector 1 and the connector piece 2,particularly in the region of connection of the line sheathing 27 to theline connector 1. The sealing compound 30, on the one hand, constitutesmechanical protection and, on the other hand, may also serve forimproving the IP system of protection by sealing off. In FIG. 13, thearrangement of the sealing compound 30 is depicted by dashes. In thiscase, it is formed, for example in the transitional region of the angleplug 1 to the pipeline 27, only partially as a partial seal, and, in thecase of the straight plug connection, the sealing compound 30 is formedboth in the transitional region to the pipeline 27 and as an outersheathing.

When the ready-made lines according to one aspect of the presentinvention have to be laid in the vicinity of heat-generating structuralparts, it may be preferred if the ready-made line is surrounded, as seenover its length, completely or partially by a heat protection layer.This heat protection layer may be formed, for example, by a foil, suchas a metalized foil reflecting heat radiation. Furthermore, formechanical protection and for protection against rattling, anupholstering layer comprising, for example, of microcellular rubber orthe like may also be applied, in particular, around the outer sheathing27. It is also conceivable to also arrange an additional outer thermalinsulation layer.

The arrangement of an outer sheathing or of a protective layer orreinforcement is illustrated in section in FIG. 14, in portions, by theouter layer 27 a. FIG. 14 illustrates how the resistance wires 14 of theline connectors 1 and the heating line 29 of the pipeline 4 a can bewired electrically to one another. FIG. 14 a illustrates that in eachcase the resistance wire of one of the line connectors 1 is connectedelectrically in series with one of the winding wires of the wirewindings 29 a, 29 b, and the junction ends of these two seriesconnections are led outward at the two line connectors 1, where ajunction of a voltage supply and/or a further connection can then takeplace.

In this case, R_(WST) means the resistance of the resistance wirewinding 14 of a line connector 1 which is designed in the exampleillustrated as an angle plug, and R_(1L) means the electrical resistanceof one of the wires of the wire windings 29 a, 29 b which surround thepipeline 4 a. R_(GST) is the resistance of the resistance wire 14 of thestraight plug connector, and R_(2L) is the electrical resistance of theother winding wire of the wire winding 29 a, 29 b around the pipeline 4a. The junctions lying outside the line connectors 1 are in each caseidentified by A1 and A2. Another wiring is illustrated in FIG. 14 b. Inthis case, the resistance wires 14 of the line connectors 1 and those ofthe wire windings 29 a, 29 b are connected around the pipeline 4 a insuch a way that an electrical series connection of all the wires isafforded. The junction ends for the junction of a voltage supply of theseries connection are led outward in the region of a line connector 1,and in this case the resistances of the individual wires are identified,as in FIG. 14 a. In this case, only one outer line junction A1 ispresent. The magnitude of the individual resistances may vary in eachcase from one embodiment of a ready-made line according to the inventionto another and depends on the heating power desired in each case.

It may be preferable, furthermore, to reduce the pitch of the resistancewire winding 14 at the end regions of the pipeline 4 a. Anotherconfiguration may involve arranging a further winding in the pipe endregion of the pipeline 4 a in addition to the circumferential winding 14of the resistance wire, in order to make an additional wire lengthavailable. This affords the possibility, during contacting, of drawingwire out of the pipeline end.

FIGS. 15 to 18 illustrate preferable further versions of a heatingconductor according to the invention which is designed in these versionsas a sheet-like heating element 40. As illustrated in FIG. 15, aheatable media line according to the invention comprises the innerpipeline 4 a and an electric heating element 40 arranged on its surface.A protective casing 41 may be attached circumferentially around theapplied electric heating element 40. The pipeline 4 a advantageouslyconsists of plastic. The outer protecting casing 41 may be formed froman adhesive tape winding or from an extrusion layer or a shrinkable tubeconsisting of plastic and forms external protection against damage andmoisture. However, a corresponding coating on the outwardly pointingsurface of the heating element 40 would also be possible. In addition,the heatable media line is preferably surrounded by a corrugated tube ora protective tube or a protective envelope, specifically, ifappropriate, with a circumferential air gap being included.

Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, the heating element 40 according toone aspect of the present invention is designed as a sheet-like heatingelement. This sheet-like heating element 40 is strip-shaped and, asillustrated in FIG. 16, may be laid, overlapping with its longitudinalmargins 46, around the pipeline 4 a so as to run in the longitudinaldirection of the pipeline 4 a. Alternatively, the longitudinal margins46 may also butt one against the other.

FIG. 18 illustrates, alternatively, that the strip-shaped sheet-likeheating element 40 is wound spirally around the pipeline 4 a. In thiscase, it is possible to select an overlapping version of the spiralwinding, as illustrated, or else a winding in which the longitudinalmargins 46 of the strip-shaped sheet-like heating element 40 butt oneagainst the other.

It is within the scope of the invention to form only one ply consistingof the sheet-like heating element 40 according to one aspect of thepresent invention or else, in order to increase the heating power, toarrange a plurality of plies of the sheet-like heating element 40 aroundthe pipeline 4 a one above the other.

The sheet-like heating element 40 according to one aspect of the presentinvention consists of a carrier 47 to which electrical heatingconductors 48 are fixed. The electrical heating conductors 48 areconnected electrically conductively to contact conductors 49 arranged onthe carrier 47. This is preferably a carrier 47 consisting of a textilenonwoven material, of a knitted fabric or of a woven fabric. It islikewise possible, however, to form the carrier 47 from a plastic foamor from a combination of the above materials. The electrical heatingconductors 48 are laid in a wavy or meander-shaped and/or mesh-likemanner on the carrier 47. The electrical heating conductors 48preferably consist of carbon fibers.

The use of carbon fibers to produce the electrical conductors affordsthe advantages of very high tensile strength, along with the lowestpossible weight and good electrical conductivity; furthermore,transparency with respect to X-rays is thereby afforded, this beingadvantageous during check inspections. Moreover, resistance to chemicalsand high thermal resistance are ensured. Moreover, carbon fibers can beprocessed easily. The electrical heating conductors 48 are, inparticular, arranged, distributed uniformly, over the entire surface ofthe sheet-like heating element 40. The main direction X of theelectrical heating conductors 48 expediently runs in the transversedirection of the strip-shaped carrier 47.

The contact conductors 49, which may likewise consist of carbon fibersor else of metallic material, may run rectilinearly and/or in a wavymanner. Preferably, a plurality of contact conductors 49 runningparallel are laid, as is illustrated in FIG. 17. In this case, thecontact conductors 49 run transversely, in particular perpendicularly,with respect to the main direction X of the electrical heatingconductors 48.

Furthermore, it can be seen in FIGS. 16 and 17 that the contactconductors 49 are arranged in each case at the two end regions of theheating conductors 48 or in the region of the two longitudinal margins46 of the carrier 47. The heating conductors 48 and the contactconductors 49 are fixed to the carrier 47 by stitching by means oftextile stitching threads 51. In this case, the seam direction Y of thestitching threads 51 runs in the main direction X of the heatingconductors 48. According to one aspect of the present invention, it maybe preferable if the textile carrier is designed to be free of heatingconductors only in a part region, in particular in an overlap region 53.This ensures that a uniform heating power is present over the entireline length. It is likewise possible to form the overlap region 53 atboth longitudinal margins of the carrier 47.

In order to ensure a simple attachment of the sheet-like heating element40 on the pipeline 4 a, the carrier 47 is preferably coated on its rearside facing away from the heating conductors 48 with atemperature-resistant pressure-sensitive adhesive 54, thus ensuringintimate bearing contact of the heating element 40 on the surface of thepipeline 4 a, so that good heat transmission is possible. The carrier 47preferably has a moisture-repelling finish. The electrical contactconductors 49 are preferably flexible and run between the heatingconductors 48 and the carrier 47. The contact conductors 49 are led outat both ends for a series connection of various lines, or preferablyonly at one of the ends of the line 1 according to one aspect of thepresent invention, by means of two junction wires 52. It is likewisepossible to lead out only one junction wire 52 at each of the two ends.

It is likewise within the scope of the invention if the contactconductors 49 are incorporated into the textile carrier 47. Theelectrical heating conductors 48 may be arranged to run parallel to oneanother, but they may also be designed to overlap one another. Such anoverlapping arrangement of the heating conductors 48 achieves a uniformcontacting of the heating conductors 48 over the entire surface and auniform current distribution, so that, even in the event of anindividual break of a heating conductor portion, there is consequentlyno appreciable impairment in the heating power. Particularly when aplurality of contact conductors 49 running parallel are present, inwhich case a wavy arrangement is likewise possible or else a mesh-likecomposite structure of the contact conductors 49 may be present,reliable contacting with the heating conductors 48 is likewise madepossible.

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseembodiments disclosed. Numerous modifications or variations are possiblein light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosenand described to provide the best illustration of the principles of theinvention and its practical application to thereby enable one ofordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations arewithin the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claimswhen interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they arefairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A line connector for media lines,comprising a connector piece with at least one junction portion forjunction connection to a media line or to an assembly and with atransitional portion contiguous to the junction portion and having aflow duct, comprising in that, at least in the region of thetransitional portion, electrical heating means for media line areprovided in an arrangement at least partially surrounding the flow duct,wherein the connector piece has form elements for guiding and fixing theresistance wire attached on the outside of the connector piece.
 2. Aline connector for media lines, comprising a connector piece with atleast one junction portion for junction connection to a media line or toan assembly and with a transitional portion contiguous to the junctionportion and having a flow duct, comprising in that, at least in theregion of the transitional portion, electrical heating means for medialine are provided in an arrangement at least partially surrounding theflow duct, the heating means having at least one resistance wire in thearrangement running with an approximately uniform surface distributionat least over the region of the transitional portion, the resistancewire having a meander-like run in order to avoid a coil effect during acurrent flux, and the resistance wire being embedded into the innertubular piece of the connector piece.
 3. A line connector for medialines, comprising a connector piece with at least one junction portionfor junction connection to a media line or to an assembly and with atransitional portion contiguous to the junction portion and having aflow duct, comprising in that, at least in the region of thetransitional portion, electrical heating means for media line areprovided in an arrangement at least partially surrounding the flow duct,the connector piece being surrounded by an outer cladding designed forheat insulation with low heat conductivity, the cladding being formed asan outer housing from two symmetrical housing halves which form two halfshells of the outer housing.
 4. The line connector as claimed in claim3, further comprising in that the cladding is designed for surroundingone end of the media line and one end of its line sheathing.
 5. The lineconnector as claimed in claim 3, further comprising in that an airvolume for heat distribution and heat insulation is enclosed between thecladding and the connector piece, the cladding consisting of a materialhaving low heat conductivity.
 6. The line connector as claimed in claim3, further comprising in that the cladding is connected with a form fitto the connector piece, with orifices in the outer housing beingpresent, which serve for leading out connecting wires for the junctionof the heating means, these orifices lying in the parting plane of theouter housing.
 7. A line connector for media lines, of the typecomprising a connector piece with at least one junction portion forjunction connection to a media line or to an assembly and with atransitional portion contiguous to the junction portion and having aflow duct, comprising in that, at least in the region of thetransitional portion, electrical heating means for media line areprovided in an arrangement at least partially surrounding the flow duct,at least one of the junction portions being designed as ahollow-cylindrical receptacle for directly plugging in the end of themedia line, the media line being capable of being fastened in amaterially integral manner, in particular by adhesive bonding orwelding, or the junction portion consisting, at least in regions, of amaterial transparent to laser beams, in such a way that the media linecan be fastened by means of laser beam welding.
 8. A ready-made medialine, comprising a pipeline with a heating conductor arranged on thecircumference and a heatable line connector fastened at least to onepipeline end of the media line; the line connector consisting of aconnector piece with at least one junction portion for junctionconnection to the media line and with a transitional portion contiguousto the junction portion and having a flow duct comprising in that, atleast in a region of the transitional portion, electrical heating meansfor the media line being provided in an arrangement at least partiallysurrounding the flow duct, the connector piece being connected to thepipeline via a plug connection, or the connector piece being connectedto the pipeline in a materially integral manner by welding or adhesivebonding.
 9. A ready-made media line, comprising a pipeline with aheating conductor arranged on the circumference and a heatable lineconnector fastened at least to one pipeline end of the media line; theline connector consisting of a connector piece with at least onejunction portion for junction connection to the media line and with atransitional portion contiguous to the junction portion and having aflow duct comprising in that, at least in the region of the transitionalportion, electrical heating means for the media line being provided inan arrangement at least partially surrounding the flow duct, a sealingcompound located between the outer housing and the connector piece andin the connection region of the line sheathing within the outer housing.10. A ready-made media line, comprising a pipeline with a heatingconductor arranged on the circumference and a heatable line connectorfastened at least to one pipeline end of the media line; the lineconnector consisting of a connector piece with at least one junctionportion for junction connection to the media line and with atransitional portion contiguous to the junction portion and having aflow duct comprising in that, at least in the region of the transitionalportion, electrical heating means for the media line are provided in anarrangement at least partially surrounding the flow duct, the electricalheating means includes a resistance wire or resistance wires surroundingthe connector body of a line connector and connected electrically to theheating conductor surrounding the media line to form a series connectionor to form two series connections.
 11. A ready-made media line,comprising a pipeline with a heating conductor arranged on thecircumference and a heatable line connector fastened at least to onepipeline end of the media line; the line connector consisting of aconnector piece with at least one junction portion for junctionconnection to the media line and with a transitional portion contiguousto the junction portion and having a flow duct comprising in that, atleast in the region of the transitional portion electrical heating meansfor the media line are provided in an arrangement at least partiallysurrounding the flow duct, a heating element that is designed as asheet-like heating element; the sheet-like heating element being of astrip-shaped design and being wound either spirally around the pipeline,or so as to overlap at its longitudinal margins around the pipeline, thesheet-like heating element being covered by an outer protective casing,the sheet-like heating element including a carrier, to which are fixedelectrical heating conductors that are connected electricallyconductively to contact conductors arranged on the carrier.